I have been a self-help-book junkie since I was in my 20's. Some of my favorite tomes include Richard Bach's "Illusions" and Eckhart Tolle's "Power of Now." If you have not read these, then do yourself a favor, find them at the library and read them. You can digest "Illusions" in an evening. Take it into the bathtub with you and immerse yourself in a nice, hot, bubbly, philosophical experience. Flip through it really fast and put your finger down on a random passage. It will speak to you.
About a year ago, I participated as one of the crew members on a shoot documenting a seminar by James Ray. You may have heard of him. He is one of the people who headline in a movie called "The Secret" which really shook up the self-help world for a while a couple of years ago. Anyway, James's seminar entailed two days of shooting, and I was one of two camera operators, so I had to really pay attention to him, following him back and forth with my camera as he strode across the stage and poured forth his ideas to a packed house.
What I realized about him, other than his amazing energy - he moved around a lot - is that he is like a living encyclopedia of a stack of philosophical and spiritual manuals that would be piled to the ceiling. One of his most important lessons was the power of manifestation.
You see, whether we consciously realize it or not, we are manifesting the lives we lead. Let me put this another way. We are in control of our destinies. We send messages out there, directing the universe to deliver what we ask for. Sometimes, whether we know it or not, we sabotage our own good fortune.
An example of this would be, "I will be happy when....." This connotes that we are not happy NOW, and that happiness lies in the future. We must realize that the only moment in existence is now. There is no past, there is no future, only now. It is not difficult to modify one's thought patterns. You just have to be aware of what you are sending out there. Try to be positive. "I am happy now" (even if you don't think that you are). If you act happy then you will become happy. When you are happy, then it is much easier to manifest positive circumstances.
Cold calling in business is a prime environment for practicing this happiness manifestation. People can hear you smile over the telephone. When you send out happy vibes, people can pick them right up. For instance, today I answered the phone in my usual professional and happy way. The woman on the other end of the line said, "Oh, I am so sorry, I have obviously dialed a wrong number. But I am so happy I did, because your voice sounds like you are smiling, and it has really made my day."
Go ahead, practice it right now. Read a line of prose while frowning. Then read the same line again, only this time, do it with a grin. We all have a store of positive energy to draw from. It's like a gold mine, and it is there for your taking.